Long Distance Riding – Packing for the Trip

Over the years I’ve gradually reduced the amount of stuff that I pack when I go for a long ride. The first couple of years, I packed lots of stuff that I never used. I found that the extra stuff I brought with me just added weight and made it more difficult to find the stuff that I really needed. So, I now pack less and just stop at the local WalMart to buy whatever I need along the way.

I don’t put a lot of thought into what clothes I pack. I just grab enough clothes for about a week and throw them into a bag. I bring a variety of clothes to account for the various extremes in weather including both hot and cold weather. One thing you definitely want to bring is an extra pair of shoes so that you have a dry pair after a long run through heavy rain.

The riding gear you choose to bring with you needs to account for variations in weather. If you’re going to be out on the road for any length of time, it’s going to rain so a good rain suit is essential. Riding hundreds of miles in the rain is no fun, especially if your gear isn’t up to the task and you end up getting cold and wet.

Put any liquids such as toothpaste, shampoo, sunscreen, etc. into a plastic zip-lock bag. That way, if there’s a leak, it’s contained within the bag and won’t get all over everything. I learned this the hard way when a bottle of sunscreen cracked and got all over everything.

If your luggage isn’t waterproof, pack everything in plastic garbage bags to keep your stuff dry. You really don’t want to have to dry out all of you clothes after a long day of riding in the rain. I also bring some extra plastic garbage bags to put dirty clothes in.

A heated jacket liner is great to have because it doesn’t take up much space and eliminates the need to bring other bulky cold weather gear. I’ve ridden in some pretty nasty weather with my heated jacket liner and, along with rain gear, has proven itself to be one of the most important pieces of gear I have.

If you’re like me, you’re going to want to bring along a bunch of electronic devices. Make sure you have all of the necessary chargers and cords. Of course, any electronics need to be kept dry so make sure you pack them in waterproof containers or bags.

A few extra bungee cords or straps are nice to have and don’t take up much room. Somehow, it seems like I always end up coming home with more stuff than I left with and need to strap extra junk to the bike.

You should bring along some basic tools and repair items just in case you have a problem on the road. You should be able to fit all of this stuff in a small bag. I would suggest the following:

– Assortment of wrenches, pliers, torx, allen wrenches

– An assortment of zip ties

– A roll of electrical tape, a few spare fuses and a small roll of wire

– Tire plugs and small 12v air compressor

– Pocket knife or other cutting tool

These are just some general thoughts and suggestions. In the end, what you pack will depend on how far you’re going, weather conditions, and how much room you have for stuff. One thing I cannot stress enough is to ensure that everything is packed in waterproof bags – it will rain if you are planning on any kind of extended trip.

Always assume it’s going to rain. There’s nothing worse than riding in the rain and then discovering that everything you packed is soaking wet. You really come to appreciate dry clothes after riding in the rain for a couple of hours.